Methods and Systems for Managing a Graphical Interface

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for managing a graphical user interface involve, for example, one or more processors displaying on a display screen a visualization of a hub element defined in part by an arc-shaped boundary portion and defining a badge element within the visualization of the hub element. Thereafter, a radial menu element may be animated by the one or more processors for rotation to a position adjacent and extending radially from the arc-shaped boundary portion of the hub element and defined in part by an arc-shaped boundary portion of the radial menu element spaced apart from the arc-shaped boundary portion of the hub element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of computerinterfaces, and more particularly to methods and systems managing agraphical interface displaying financial data, such as trading data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A current issue, for example, in electronic trading may be a lack ofspace on display screens of computing devices, such as desktopcomputers. For example, a user may have many windows open at the sametime on a display screen, and each window may be fully populated to theextent of being very crowded with trade monitors, prices, spreadsheets,curves, charts, trade blotters, P&L information, and the like. When thatbulk of information is stretched to include multiple systems, there isan even more serious lack of display screen space. Thus, it is notsurprising that users may ultimately find that there is little or nospace on their display screens for one or more additional products whichthey may wish to include. That is a problem for both providers, such asfinancial institutions, who want users' screen space for their productsand the users who are unable to view all of the information they need.

Currently, a financial institution, such as a global bank, may provide aplatform to its clients that delivers electronic access to the financialinstitution's capital markets services across equities, futures, FX,emerging markets, rates, credit, commodities, securities, municipals,prime, and research. Such a platform may allow clients of the financialinstitution ready access to proprietary data and analytics, financialinstitution research, and market commentary, as well as fast, seamless,and stable execution for FX and rates trade and a suite ofsophisticated, post-trade analysis tools.

The platform may include features that provide a great deal offlexibility, such as windows and panes (e.g., parts of a sectionedwindow that provide additional information about a product) on agraphical display. For example, such platform may enable windows andpanes to be created for different parts of a product allowing a user tocreate a flexible interface that enables the user to pick and choosewhat parts of the platform and/or what products the user actually wantsto see on the user's display screen.

Such a platform may be very beneficial for the particular financialinstitution which may likely be in competition with others in the marketfor the limited space of the users' display screens. For example, usersmay generally have multiple applications from competing providers,including single-dealer or multi-dealer trading platforms, open on theirscreens at the same time and the platform's ability to have one windowopen at a time may allow the financial institution's platform to remainopen on a user's display screen and allow such users, for example, tocontinue viewing and/or trading on the financial institution's platform.

However, users of the financial institution's platform may sometimeswant to quickly launch a particular part of the financial institution'sapplication. A user may have that particular part of the application ina user profile that the user may have already preset, but sometimes theuser may want to easily access one product or visualize certain thingsor receive alerts, for example, when new axes or new trading informationarrives. An “axe” is the interest that a person or trader shows inbuying or selling a financial security. For example, if a trader holds along position but has short-term concerns, that trader's “axe” towardshort-term put options may be significant.

There is a need for a method and system for managing a graphical userinterface that provides efficiency in the use of display screen space ina way that allows users, such as traders, a high degree of flexibilityto customize their trading requirements around their day-to-day workrequirements on their computing devices, such as their desktops, that isnot possible using existing graphical interface presentation methods andsystems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention employ computer hardware and software,including, without limitation, one or more processors coupled to memoryand non-transitory computer-readable storage media with one or moreexecutable programs stored thereon which instruct the processors toperform the graphical management and display described herein.

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for managing agraphical interface that may involve, for example, displaying, by one ormore processors, on a first display screen, a visualization of a hubelement defined in part by at least one arc-shaped boundary portion ofsaid hub element; defining, by the one or more processors, a badgeelement within said visualization of the hub element; and animating, bythe one or more processors, rotation of a first radial menu element to aposition adjacent and extending radially from said at least onearc-shaped boundary portion of the hub element and defined in part by atleast one arc-shaped boundary portion of said first radial menu elementspaced apart from said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of thehub element.

In an aspect of embodiments of the invention, displaying thevisualization of the hub element may involve, for example, displayingthe hub element in a first position with at least a second boundaryportion of said hub element aligned to a first edge of the first displayscreen. In another aspect, displaying the visualization of the hubelement may involve, for example, repositioning the hub element fromsaid first position with said at least the second boundary portion ofthe hub element aligned to the first edge of the first display screen toa second position with said at least the second boundary portion of thehub element aligned to a second edge of the first display screen.

In an additional aspect of embodiments of the invention, displaying thevisualization of the hub element may involve, for example, repositioningthe hub element from the first display screen to a second displayscreen. In a further aspect, repositioning the hub element from thefirst display screen to the second display screen may involve, forexample, repositioning the hub element from the first display screen tothe second display screen responsive to a corresponding repositioning ofa focus of a user input device from the first display screen to thesecond display screen. In another aspect, displaying the visualizationof the hub element defined in part by said at least one arc-shapedboundary portion of said hub element may involve, for example,displaying a visualization of a semi-circular shaped hub element.

In a further aspect of embodiments of the invention, defining the badgeelement within said visualization of the hub element may involve, forexample, defining an alert notification badge element within saidvisualization of the hub element. In a still further aspect, definingsaid alert notification badge element within the visualization of thehub element may involve, for example, displaying a numeric indicator ofa number of received alert notifications within said alert notificationbadge element. In still another aspect, defining said alert notificationbadge element within the visualization of the hub element may involve,for example, resizing said hub element in proportion to a pre-definedlevel of urgency of at least one received alert notification.

In an additional aspect of embodiments of the invention, animatingrotation of the first radial menu element may involve, for example,animating rotation of the first radial menu element to the positionadjacent and extending radially from said arc-shaped boundary portion ofthe hub element responsive to a user input device hovering over said hubelement. In another aspect, animating rotation of the first radial menuelement may involve, for example, animating rotation of the first radialmenu element displaying at least one first radial menu element menuitem. In a further aspect, animating rotation of the first radial menuelement may involve, for example, animating rotation of the first radialmenu element displaying a plurality of first radial menu element menuitems. In an additional aspect, animating rotation of the first radialmenu element may involve, for example, animating rotation of the firstradial menu element displaying a first radial menu element informationitem. In another aspect, animating rotation of the first radial menuelement may involve, for example, animating rotation of the first radialmenu element displaying a first radial menu element action item.

Another aspect of embodiments of the invention may involve, for example,animating rotation of a second radial menu element to a positionadjacent and extending radially from said at least one arc-shapedboundary portion of the first radial menu element and defined in part byat least one arc-shaped boundary portion of the second radial menuelement spaced apart from said at least one arc-shaped boundary portionof the first radial menu element. In a further aspect, animatingrotation of the second radial menu element may involve, for example,animating rotation of the second radial menu element to a positionadjacent and extending radially from said at least one arc-shapedboundary portion of the first radial menu element responsive to a userinput device hover over a first radial menu item displayed on the firstradial menu element. In an additional aspect, animating rotation of thesecond radial menu element may involve, for example, animating rotationof the second radial menu element displaying a plurality of secondradial menu element menu items. In a still further aspect, animatingrotation of the second radial menu element may involve, for example,animating rotation of the second radial menu element displaying a secondradial element menu element information item. In another aspect,animating rotation of the second radial menu element may involve, forexample, animating rotation of the second radial menu element displayinga second radial element menu element action item.

These and other aspects of the invention will be set forth in part inthe description which follows and in part will become more apparent tothose skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may belearned from practice of the invention. It is intended that all suchaspects are to be included within this description, are to be within thescope of the present invention, and are to be protected by theaccompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a display of a widget visualization forembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a display of the widget visualizationfor embodiments of the invention aligned with any part of the edge of adisplay screen;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the widget visualization forembodiments of the invention following a user's cursor from one displayscreen to another;

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate examples of the widget visualization forembodiments of the invention positioned at different locations along theedges of a display screen;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the appearance of a badge and anincrease in size of the widget visualization for embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a transition of the radial menu of thewidget visualization for embodiments of the invention rotating intoview;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the transition of a radial submenu ofthe widget visualization for embodiments of the invention rotating intoview;

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate examples of radial sub-menu items of thewidget visualization for embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of menu items of a radial menu of thewidget visualization for embodiments of the invention displaying numberson radial menu item badges that indicate a number of alerts that pertainto the particular menu items; and

FIG. 14 is a flow chart that illustrates an overview example of aprocess for managing a graphical user interface for embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of theinvention, not as a limitation of the invention. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various modifications and variations canbe made in the present invention without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention. For example, features illustrated or describedas part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to yield astill further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the presentinvention cover such modifications and variations that come within thescope of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for managinggraphical interface displays, for example, for traders, that are highlyflexible and that enable users to customize their requirements aroundtheir day-to-day work requirements on their desktops. Thus, embodimentsof the invention provide a method of managing a graphical interface, forexample, for a financial institution platform that is both a highlyflexible and a very functional tool that provides a great improvement tothe existing technology and adds considerable value for users.

Embodiments of the invention introduce a concept of a visualization of awidget which remains on a user's display screen at all times. A widgetmay be a small software application with limited functionality whichappears on a display screen. The widget visualization for embodiments ofthe invention may provide, for example, an unobtrusive floating panelfor displaying alerts, succinct data, and executing user interfaceactions. Thus, the widget visualization may provide a user anunobtrusive but clear way to display alerts and succinct data, as wellas user interface actions via one or more radial menus.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a display of a widget visualization 100for embodiments of the invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates an example of adisplay of the widget visualization 100 for embodiments of the inventionaligned with part of an edge 200 of a display screen 202. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, as noted, the widget visualization 100 may appear, forexample, as a small, simple, semi-circular window, which is aligned tothe edge 200 of a user's display screen 202. The user may, for example,choose a location at which the user wishes to place the widgetvisualization 100 on the user's display screen.

The widget visualization 100 for embodiments of the invention may allowthe user to do several different things. For example, the visualization100 may allow the user to quickly launch any part of the financialinstitution's platform which the user wishes to launch, such as aproduct, an axe monitor, or the user's profile. For another example, thewidget visualization 100 for embodiments of the invention may allow theuser to receive alerts. Thus, if traders are posting new axes, forexample, the user may be presented immediately with an alert message onthe widget visualization 100.

It is not necessary, for example, for a user to have the financialinstitution's platform displayed prominently on the user's displayscreen. Instead, the small, unobtrusive widget visualization 100 forembodiments of the invention located somewhere on the user's displayscreen may provide alert messages. As an additional example, thevisualization 100 may provide users a visualization, for example, ofopen orders which the users may have with the financial institution'splatform in a quick and easy way.

A user may launch the visualization 100 for embodiments of theinvention, for example, from a preferences menu of the financialinstitution's platform. For this purpose, a separate preferences menumay be provided specifically for the widget visualization 100. Using thepreferences menu, users may define how they want to use the widgetvisualization 100 for embodiments of the invention. The widgetvisualization 100 may be customizable, for example, so that users maydefine exactly what items they want to launch from the widgetvisualization 100, such as particular alerts.

Once a user defines how the user wishes to use the widget visualization100 for embodiments of the invention, the user may then decide where heor she wants the widget to be displayed on the user's display screen.For example, users of the financial institution's platform may typicallyhave more than one display screen and may employ a movable indicator,such as a mouse cursor, on the screens to identify a point on one of thescreens that may be affected by input from the user. A user withmultiple screens may set a preference, for example, for the widgetvisualization 100 for embodiments of the invention to follow the user'smouse cursor from one display screen onto another “active” displayscreen (i.e. the screen where the cursor is currently located).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the widget visualization 100 forembodiments of the invention following a user's cursor from one displayscreen to another. Thus, if the user has multiple screens, such asscreens 300 and 302 open, as the user moves his or her cursor 304, forexample, in arrow direction 306 from one screen 300 to another screen302, the particular preference may cause the widget visualization 100for embodiments of the invention to follow the cursor 304 as the usermoves his or her cursor from screen to screen and remain within theuser's field of view.

On the other hand, if a user does not want to use that particularpreference, the user may drag or configure the widget visualization forembodiments of the invention to be positioned at any part of any edge ofa single display screen, such as the user's principal display screen.FIGS. 4-7 illustrate examples of the widget visualization 100 forembodiments of the invention positioned at different locations on adisplay screen. Thus, the widget visualization may be pinned to a topedge 400 as shown in FIG. 4, a left edge 500 as shown in FIG. 5, abottom edge 600 as shown in FIG. 6, or a right edge 700 as shown in FIG.7 of the display screen regardless of where the user may move his or hermouse cursor.

The widget visualization 100 for embodiments of the invention mayprovide a radial menu. Typically, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, the widgetvisualization 100 may sit on the top 400, left 500, bottom 600 or right700 edge of the user's display screen. In addition, the widgetvisualization 100 may provide an area where a “badge” may be shown. FIG.8 illustrates an example of the appearance of a badge 800 and anincrease in size of the widget visualization 100 for embodiments of theinvention. The badge 800 may be used, for example, to indicate thatthere are a number of new messages or alerts, such as eight new messagesor alerts as shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the widgetvisualization 100 for embodiments of the invention may increase in sizeslightly and/or change colour to accommodate the badge 800 and signifythe importance and/or type of new alerts.

When a user moves the user's mouse cursor over the widget visualizationfor embodiments of the invention, a radial menu may rotate intoposition. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a transition of the radialmenu 900 of the widget visualization for embodiments of the inventionrotating into view, for example, in arrow direction 902. Referring toFIG. 9, the radial menu element 900 extends radially from the arc-shapedboundary portion 905 of the hub element 100 and is defined in part by anarc-shaped boundary portion 907 of the radial menu element 900 spacedapart from the arc-shaped boundary portion 905 of the hub element 100.Thus, when a user moves his or her cursor 904 to hover over the widgetvisualization 100, the widget visualization may increase in size in aradial fashion as the radial menu 900 rotates in arrow direction 902into position. In addition, referring to FIG. 9, depending on whatpreferences the user may have set, multiple items, such as radial menuitems 906, 908, and 910, may appear on the radial menu 900 of the widgetvisualization 100. It is to be understood that while three radial items,906, 908, and 910 are depicted in the example of FIG. 9, any smaller orlarger number of radial menu items may appear on the radial menu 900.

In order to learn more about one of the radial menu items, such as items906, 908, and 910 shown in FIG. 9, the user may move the user's mousecursor to hover over one of the radial menu items and be presented witha rotation of a radial submenu into view. FIG. 10 illustrates an exampleof the transition of a radial submenu of the widget visualization 100for embodiments of the invention rotating into view. Referring to FIG.10, for example, when the user moves the user's cursor 1000 to hoverover one of the radial menu items, such as radial menu item 906, aradial submenu 1002 of any number of radial submenu items, such asradial submenu items 1004 and 1006, may rotate into view. Referringfurther to FIG. 10, the radial submenu 1002 extends radially from thearc-shaped boundary portion 907 of the radial menu element 900 and isdefined in part by an arc-shaped boundary portion 1003 of the radialsubmenu element 1002 spaced apart from the arc-shaped boundary portion907 of the radial menu element 900. It is to be understood that whiletwo radial submenu items 1004 and 1006 are depicted in the example ofFIG. 10, any smaller or larger number of radial submenu items may appearon the radial submenu 1002.

A user may be able to obtain any number of actions from menu items onthe radial menu and submenu of the widget visualization 100 forembodiments of the invention. For example, menu items on the radialsubmenu may simply display data, or may be configured to execute actionswhen clicked on. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate examples of radial sub-menuitems of the widget visualization 100 for embodiments of the invention.Referring to FIG. 11, an item of a submenu, such as submenu 1100, mayinclude a submenu item, such as submenu item 1102 that may be configuredto perform an action, such as open a screen, and another submenu item,such as submenu item 1104 may be configured to perform or executeanother action. Further, a user may launch a part of the financialinstitution's platform, such as a chart or order form from a radialsub-menu item of the widget visualization 100. Referring to FIG. 12, auser may simply retrieve information using menu items, such as radialsubmenu items 1200 and 1202, on the radial sub-menu 1204 of the widgetvisualization 100 for embodiments of the invention. A user may alsodisplay, for example, graphical data or text data using one of theradial sub-menu items 1200 and 1202 of the widget visualization 100.

The widget visualization 100 for embodiments of the invention mayinclude, for example, a quick launcher preference aspect by which a usermay define particular parts of the financial institution's platform thatthe user may wish to launch first. Thus, the parts which the user maywish to launch first may be displayed as the first item on graphicalrepresentations of the radial menu. For example, when a user defines apreference to launch an order form or a dashboard of the financialinstitution's platform first, the order form or dashboard may appear,for example, on the radial menu or submenu of the widget visualizationfor embodiments of the invention.

An alerts aspect of the widget visualization for embodiments of theinvention may involve any number of different types of alerts. Suchalerts may include, for example, alerts regarding publishing of atradable axe or a chat message. In the alert aspect, a number thatindicates the number of alerts awaiting the user's attention may appearon the hub or main body portion of the widget visualization, and radialmenu items and sub-items may display a “badge” to show a more detailedbreakdown of the alerts. As previously noted with reference FIG. 8, thebadge 800 may be used, for example, to indicate the number of newmessages or alerts, such as eight new messages or alerts as shown inFIG. 8, awaiting a user's attention. As new alerts are received, thenumber within the badge 800 of the widget visualization 100 thatindicates the number of alerts awaiting the user's attention may beincreased by the number of newly received alerts and the size and colourof the badge 800 may increase slightly and/or change to reflect numberand type of alerts.

In addition, each menu item of the radial menu, may display a radialmenu item badge that indicates a number of alerts that pertain to theparticular radial menu item. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of menuitems, such as menu items 1300 and 1302, of a radial menu 1306 of thewidget visualization 100 for embodiments of the invention displayingnumbers, such as the numbers “3” and “5”, respectively, on radial menuitem badges 1308 and 1310 that indicate a number of alerts that pertainto the particular menu items.

Referring to FIG. 13, when a user hovers the user's cursor over one ofthe items of the radial menu 1306 of the widget visualization 100 forembodiments of the invention, such as radial menu item 1302 showing thenumber “5” representing five alerts, each of the five alerts may belaunched individually. Thus, the user may launch each of the five alertson radial sub-menu item 1302 by causing the user's cursor to hover overthe radial menu item 1302 displaying the number “5”. Thereupon, each ofthe five alerts may be displayed radially from left to right on items ofa radial sub-menu centered below radial menu item 1302 displaying thenumber “5”.

In the event all of the five alerts cannot fit because of a spacerestriction, the alerts on the far right and far left of the radialsub-menu items may be displayed in truncated form followed, for example,by an indicator, such as a series of dots, to indicate that additionaltext of the alert is available. In order to display the entire alert forthose truncated items, the user may cause the user's cursor to hoverover one of those truncated items.

Further, the alerts may be displayed on a radial sub-menu item in ascrollable window to overcome the size limitation of the radial sub-menuitem. It is to be understood that any number of alerts may thus beaccommodated by the widget visualization 100. It is to be furtherunderstood that embodiments of the invention may include any number ofradial menus in addition to the radial menus and radial sub-menus of theforegoing examples. It is also to be understood that each radial submenuitem, such as radial submenu items 1004 and 1006 depicted in the exampleof FIG. 10, may itself have its own submenu items.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart that illustrates an overview example of aprocess for managing a graphical user interface for embodiments of theinvention. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 14, at S1, a visualization of a hubelement 100 defined in part by an arc-shaped boundary portion 905 of thehub element 100 is displayed by one or more processors on a firstdisplay screen. At S2, a badge element 800, as shown in FIG. 8, isdefined within the visualization of the hub element 100 by the one ormore processors. At S3, a first radial menu element 900 is animated bythe one or more processors for rotation to a position adjacent andextending radially from the arc-shaped boundary portion 905 of the hubelement 100 and defined in part by an arc-shaped boundary portion 907 ofthe first radial menu element 900 spaced apart from the arc-shapedboundary portion 905 of the hub element 100. In addition, referring toFIG. 10, in some embodiments, a second radial menu element 1002 may beanimated for rotation to a position adjacent and extending radially fromthe arc-shaped boundary portion 907 of the first radial menu element 900and defined in part by an arc-shaped boundary portion 1003 of the secondradial menu element 1002 spaced apart from the arc-shaped boundaryportion 907 of the first radial menu element 900.

It is to be understood that the application code for embodiments of theinvention may be built, for example, in multiple layers using anyprogramming language to allow its flexibility. It is to be furtherunderstood that embodiments of the invention may be implemented asprocesses of a computer program product, each process of which isoperable on one or more processors either alone on a single physicalplatform, such as a personal computer, or across a plurality ofplatforms, such as a system or network, including networks such as theInternet, an intranet, a WAN, a LAN, a cellular network, or any othersuitable network.

Embodiments of the invention may employ client devices that may eachcomprise a computer-readable medium, including but not limited to,random access memory (RAM) coupled to a processor. The processor mayexecute computer-executable program instructions stored in memory. Suchprocessors may include, but are not limited to, a microprocessor, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and or state machines.Such processors may comprise, or may be in communication with, media,such as computer-readable media, which stores instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to perform one or more ofthe steps described herein.

It is also to be understood that such computer-readable media mayinclude, but are not limited to, electronic, optical, magnetic, RFID, orother storage or transmission device capable of providing a processorwith computer-readable instructions. Other examples of suitable mediainclude, but are not limited to, CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic disk, memorychip, ROM, RAM, ASIC, a configured processor, optical media, magneticmedia, or any other suitable medium from which a computer processor canread instructions. Embodiments of the invention may employ other formsof such computer-readable media to transmit or carry instructions to acomputer, including a router, private or public network, or othertransmission device or channel, both wired or wireless. Suchinstructions may comprise code from any suitable computer programminglanguage.

It is to be further understood that client devices that may be employedby embodiments of the invention may also comprise a number of externalor internal devices, such as a mouse, a CD-ROM, DVD, keyboard, display,or other input or output devices. In general such client devices may beany suitable type of processor-based platform that is connected to anetwork and that interacts with one or more application programs and mayoperate on any suitable operating system. Server devices may also becoupled to the network and, similarly to client devices, such serverdevices may comprise a processor coupled to a computer-readable medium,such as a random access memory (RAM). Such server devices, which may bea single computer system, may also be implemented as a network ofcomputer processors. Examples of such server devices are servers,mainframe computers, networked computers, a processor-based device, andsimilar types of systems and devices.

1. A method for managing a graphical user interface, comprising:displaying, by one or more processors, on a first display screen, avisualization of a hub element defined in part by at least onearc-shaped boundary portion of said hub element; defining, by the one ormore processors, a badge element within said visualization of the hubelement; and animating, by the one or more processors, rotation of afirst radial menu element having a leading edge moving from a positionaligned with a first edge of the first display screen in an arcuate pathalong said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of said hub elementto a position adjacent and extending radially from said at least onearc-shaped boundary portion of the hub element and said first radialmenu element being defined in part by said leading edge and by at leastone arc-shaped boundary portion of said first radial menu element spacedapart from said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of the hubelement; and animating, by the one or more processors, rotation of asecond radial menu element having a leading edge moving from a positionaligned with said first edge of the display screen in an arcuate pathalong said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of said first radialmenu element spaced apart from said at least one arc-shaped boundaryportion of the hub element to a position adjacent and extending radiallyfrom said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of the first radialmenu element spaced apart from said at least one arc-shaped boundaryportion of the hub element and defined in part by at least onearc-shaped boundary portion of the second radial menu element spacedapart from said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of the firstradial menu element.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying thevisualization of the hub element further comprises displaying the hubelement in a first position with at least a second boundary portion ofsaid hub element aligned to a first edge of the first display screen. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the visualization of the hubelement further comprises repositioning the hub element from said firstposition with said at least the second boundary portion of the hubelement aligned to the first edge of the first display screen to asecond position with said at least the second boundary portion of thehub element aligned to a second edge of the first display screen.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein displaying the visualization of the hubelement further comprises repositioning the hub element from the firstdisplay screen to a second display screen.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein repositioning the hub element from the first display screen tothe second display screen further comprises repositioning the hubelement from the first display screen to the second display screenresponsive to a corresponding repositioning of a focus of a user inputdevice from the first display screen to the second display screen. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the visualization of the hubelement defined in part by said at least one arc-shaped boundary portionof said hub element further comprises displaying a visualization of asemi-circular shaped hub element.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereindefining the badge element within said visualization of the hub elementfurther comprises defining an alert notification badge element withinsaid visualization of the hub element.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereindefining said alert notification badge element within the visualizationof the hub element further comprises displaying a numeric indicator of anumber of received alert notifications within said alert notificationbadge element.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein defining said alertnotification badge element within the visualization of the hub elementfurther comprises resizing said hub element in proportion to apre-defined level of urgency of at least one received alertnotification.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein animating rotation ofthe first radial menu element further comprises animating rotation ofthe first radial menu element to the position adjacent and extendingradially from said arc-shaped boundary portion of the hub elementresponsive to a user input device hover over said hub element.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, wherein animating rotation of the first radial menuelement further comprises animating rotation of the first radial menuelement displaying at least one first radial menu element menu item. 12.The method of claim 9, wherein animating rotation of the first radialmenu element further comprises animating rotation of the first radialmenu element displaying a plurality of first radial menu element menuitems.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein animating rotation of thefirst radial menu element further comprises animating rotation of thefirst radial menu element displaying a first radial menu elementinformation item.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein animating rotationof the first radial menu element further comprises animating rotation ofthe first radial menu element displaying a first radial menu elementaction item.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein animatingrotation of the second radial menu element further comprises animatingrotation of the second radial menu element to a position adjacent andextending radially from said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion ofthe first radial menu element responsive to a user input device hoverover a first radial menu item displayed on the first radial menuelement.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein animating rotation of thesecond radial menu element further comprises animating rotation of thesecond radial menu element displaying a plurality of second radial menuelement menu items.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein animatingrotation of the second radial menu element further comprises animatingrotation of the second radial menu element displaying a second radialelement menu element information item.
 19. The method of claim 1,wherein animating rotation of the second radial menu element furthercomprises animating rotation of the second radial menu elementdisplaying a second radial element menu element action item.
 20. Asystem for managing a graphical user interface, comprising: a processorcoupled to memory, the processor being programmed for: displaying, on afirst display screen, a visualization of a hub element defined in partby at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of said hub element;defining a badge element within said visualization of the hub element;and animating rotation of a first radial menu element having a leadingedge moving from a position aligned with a first edge of the firstdisplay screen in an arcuate path along said at least one arc-shapedboundary portion of said hub element to a position adjacent andextending radially from said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion ofthe hub element and said first radial menu element being defined in partby said leading edge and by at least one arc-shaped boundary portion ofsaid first radial menu element spaced apart from said at least onearc-shaped boundary portion of the hub element; and animating rotationof a second radial menu element having a leading edge moving from aposition aligned with said first edge of the display screen in anarcuate path along said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of saidfirst radial menu element spaced apart from said at least one arc-shapedboundary portion of the hub element to a position adjacent and extendingradially from said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of the firstradial menu element spaced apart from said at least one arc-shapedboundary portion of the hub element and defined in part by at least onearc-shaped boundary portion of the second radial menu element spacedapart from said at least one arc-shaped boundary portion of the firstradial menu element.